North Coast 500

[lisa110rry]

As anyone done this? Northcoast500.com It's a bit of a dream of mine, but I doubt I'll do it as I strongly suspect my husband would now not be able to get in/out of my little car due to arthritis. I look at this website so often. So, anyone done it? Anyone done it in a very old car? Best bits? Pictures? Thank you.

 

[AMGeed]

For just a moment I thought you were entering this Lisa

North West 200 | Sponsored by Vauxhall - North West 200

 

[lisa110rry]

Oh my goodness! As it happens, I have a full motorcycle licence and legally could get on a BMW 1200 and kill myself! However, I suspect my Vespa LX 150 wouldn't make much of an impact on that!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've got five tabs open on my browser, which I haven't closed for a month or so, each with nice accommodation along the route. I've not yet got round to booking though.

 

[Davycc]

Do the North West 200 every year, Great spectacle for 2 wheel lovers. If ever you get the chance come see it, mad people on mad machines. Every time i go I come back thinking of buying another bike.

 

[artyman]

Never mind a car, the pastor of my church cycled the North Coast 500 last summer as part of our fundraising to get the roof fixed. He survived as well !

 

[Niks]

I did the NC500 in October 2016 for 5 days, it was amazing. I stayed at campsites along the way as they are cheap (Under £10), have all the facilities you need and get to meet new friendly people too.

I drove from London to Inverness and stayed at a campsite there, then onto Eileen Donan Castle, Applecross via the Bealach Na Ba (MUST DO!!!), Gairloch, Lochniver, Durness, John O Groats, Dunrobin and back down to Inverness. There were some other random places off the road I stopped at, especially the white sand beaches which were magical.

I recorded the entire route from start to finish on my go pro but still in the process of editing.

There are plenty of petrol stations along the route so no need to worry about running out of fuel or food/drinks.

...

 

[Niks]

Thoroughly recommend it!

Niks

 

[lisa110rry]

Thank you so much for those beautiful pictures! I think I would have to pack very light to get the camping gear in! ...or accept the the roof would stay up all the journey, which would be a shame.

 

[Benzmanc]

I suspect all those pics have been photoshopped..............There's no rain

 

[ton377]

Excellent pics! Thanks for posting.☺

 

[PobodY]

This seems relevant to my interests, maybe I need to suggest to my wife that we should do it.

MBClub convoy perhaps?

 

[C43AMG]

I've got five tabs open on my browser, which I haven't closed for a month or so, each with nice accommodation along the route. I've not yet got round to booking though.

You must Share your findings Bobby

 

[tanuie]

All ways watch it on the TV.

 

[Wheelsnuts]

Thank you for the fantastic pictures, Niks. They make me very nostalgic. We more or less covered the same route in an open top MGA 45 years ago and I will never forget it.

 

[MercedesDriver]

Great photos Niks. This trip is on my list for some time now.
Which camp sites did you use and do you know if those camps are dog friendly?

 

[Riverside Red]

Really fancy doing this, just 7 nights of UK hotel prices would equate to a week in sunny Greece (wifey doesn't do camping).

RR

 

[Niks]

Great photos Niks. This trip is on my list for some time now.
Which camp sites did you use and do you know if those camps are dog friendly?

Hi,

Below are the list of campsites I stayed at:

Inverness:
Bunchrew Campsite

Applecross:
Applecross Campsite

Gairloch:
Gairloch Campsite

Ardmair:
Ardmair Campsite

Durness:
Sango Sands Campsite

John O Groats:
John O Groats Campsite

All the information you need is on the websites for each of those campsites. Best thing is to phone them up before you go and see availability for a pitch/space and ask for the price (sometimes they give you discount if they aren't busy) - TIP: always make a note of the person you spoke to!

If you arrive late at night at a campsite, you can just register your number plate on a list outside of the office if its closed and go pitch up your tent or park your motorhome/caravan. In the morning, the warden will come to you and you can pay by cash. There is normally designated zone for just tents or car+tent, and other zones for motorhomes & caravans (with electricity hook ups. If its low season and its not busy at all, you can pitch up anywhere. TIP: There are no cash machines at these places so make sure you have spare cash!

All the campsites I stayed at were very clean, well maintained, it felt safe and other people/travellers were very friendly. Its a great way to meet like minded travellers from all over UK and Europe to share hidden secret places/gems along the route.

Hope that helps!

Niks

 

[lisa110rry]

Niks, you are brilliant, thanks for that, gives me more to drool about. Because my husband is very unwell, many of my 'holidays' are in the mind and I love poring over campsite websites and so on, looking at pictures and reading others' holiday tales. My other 'mental holidays' are to the Outer Hebrides and Iceland, I even have maps to look at, real maps, not Google Maps. I am going on a little real holiday soon, on my own, to my home town. Already feeling a bit odd that I'll be on my own, but getting on, so I need to do it now before I can't get insurance at a sensible cost to go to the US. Any further information you would like to share about the NC500 will be gratefully received...

 

[MercedesDriver]

Hi, Below are the list of campsites I stayed at: Inverness: Bunchrew Campsite Applecross: Applecross Campsite Gairloch: Gairloch Campsite Ardmair: Ardmair Campsite Durness: Sango Sands Campsite John O Groats: John O Groats Campsite Hope that helps! Niks

Many thanks for the links and tips.